Tuesday 18th May 2010
"Destination Dunkerque" first to the Lizard
The Normandy Channel Race is now into its third day of racing since Sunday’s
start from Caen. The double-handed protagonists among the reindexing 9 Class
40s have already had their fair number of pitfalls to contend with on their
way down the shores of the Calvados, across the Channel, around the Isle of
Wight and, since dawn today, along the rugged coastline of Cornwall. Thus
far they’ve encountered fairly typical sailing conditions for this time of
year, namely light airs and a damp, pervasive mist on what has been a calm
sea, albeit one that is being pushed about by the strong currents that
appear to be calling the shots as regards the various fortunes of the fleet.
The most agile in avoiding such traps in this first quarter of the race are
the men aboard "Destination Dunkerque", Thomas Ruyant and Tanguy Leglatin,
who rounded the legendary Lizard Point early this afternoon and are now
making headway in the Atlantic. Already they’re beginning to feel the first
effects of the zone of high pressure centred beneath the NW tip of Brittany,
with moderate SW’ly winds proving absolutely ideal for propelling the
leaders towards Ireland and the next passage mark of Tuskar Rock lighthouse
to the SE of the emerald isle.
The tacking frenzy is drawing to a close for the protagonists leading the
Normandy Channel Race. The rather breathless W’ly wind, which literally
brought the fleet to a standstill in the calm conditions, will gradually
leave the way clear for a more organised SW’ly air flow, both in terms of
strength and direction. After the tricky section across the Solent, the
reindexing 9 boats are set to bunch up once again, while Jacques Fournier and
Denis van Weynebergh have been forced to retire to a port in Brittany after
engine trouble and hence lack of power aboard their "Groupe Picoty".
Meantime the head of the race still shows the Ruyant – Leglatin duo to be a
dozen miles ahead, and they are set to gradually pick up speed as they begin
to bear away, the wind shifting regularly across the stern of their Verdier
design. "As such the rich are set to become richer", and the deficits, which
were still minimal this morning, are likely to gain a little in size.
For the time being then the battle is on at the front of the fleet where the
Franco-British duo, Halvard Mabire- Peter Harding (40 Degrees) have once
again proven to be very at ease in the light airs and haven’t had to think
twice about sailing as close to the coast as possible. Dutch sailor Roelland
Franssens in association with Belgian sailor Michel Kleinjans (Moonpalace)
is to be credited with the smoothest trajectory as they make their way out
of the Channel. Indeed these two solid sailors seem to have made a good
saving as regards tack changes and are breathing down the necks of the
Mabire-Harding duo this evening.
The fatigue from a particularly testing start to the race, in search of the
right trim and the right sail area in the evanescent airs, is affecting all
the crews. Side by side since noon, "Spliff" skippered by Andrew Dawson and
Stephen Card and "Groupe Partouche" helmed by the Coatnan-Lautrou duo, are
making for the middle of the Channel in their bid to hunt down similar
conditions to those encountered at the head of the race. By saving on the
number of tacks to make it to the Lizard, they’ll be trying to limit the
damage and hence their deficits.
Fortunately the course of the Normandy Channel Race has been designed in
such a way that all manner of upsets in the ranking are possible, right the
way to the end....
Quotes from the boats:
Pierre-Yves Lautrou “Partouche”: “We have flat seas. We’re sailing downwind
of “Spliff”, who we got back past last night. We’re going to have to get
round the SW tip of England… Another tricky section, with the tide against
us once again… which means the frontrunners will be able to make their
getaway. However, we won’t be the only ones to suffer and afterwards we may
be able to hoist the spinnaker. It’s really the first day, and the passage
across the Solent which was difficult. However there are still some
opportunities to pull a blinder”.
Yvan Noblet “Appart City”: “We’re becalmed, but there’s a little air picking
up now. We’re hounding the leader. The boat is doing well even though we’re
just getting the feel for her (Yvan has just bought the boat from Italian
Giovanni Soldini). The light airs aren’t the favourite conditions for our
Verdier design. We’re really having to battle with Halvard Mabire and Peter
Harding. It’s been an interesting race right the way down the English coast.
We’ll be happy to get into the downwind conditions of the Celtic Sea.”
Jacques Fournier “Groupe Picoty”: “We’re disappointed that we’ve had to
retire from the race. We don’t take the start of a race with a view to
retiring. We have electrical recharging problems. This could be compensated
for by running the engine but sadly we have issues with the cooling fluid on
the latter. As such we’ve pre-empted these problems by retiring. Making the
Solent in the early hours was a real high point. It reminded me of Cowes
week and the numerous boats tacking against the current”.
Thomas Ruyant “Destination Dunkerque”: “We’re in a transition phase and
beginning to feel the effects of the SW’ly as forecast. We’re happy with our
lead but with this course, nothing will be decided till the finish. We’re
being very vigilant and always trying to be on top of our game! We prefer it
when there is more wind as these conditions are tiring”.
Follow the Normandy Channel Race by visiting :
http://www.normandy-race.com/, an official
position report will be online each day at 5, 8, 11, 15 and 1900 hours
Rights free photos for the press and web by Jean-Marie Liot
www.jmliot.com
User name: media@ncr2010.com
Password: ncr2010
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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